Twin Cupids at Work: Daddy, Come Home! novel Chapter 23

Their eyes locked, both of them brimming with anger. The tension in the room was thick, and just as Julian finished speaking, Madeline’s phone rang, the sound sharp and sudden.

She pressed her lips together, checked the caller ID, then shot Julian a quick look. Without another word, she moved off to the side and picked up.

Oliver’s little voice came through right away, so soft and sweet it almost made her heart ache. “Mommy, I’m sorry. My watch ran out of battery, so I was charging it in my room… Is something wrong?”

“Oliver, where are you right now?” Madeline’s tone was tight with worry.

“I’m at Uncle Casey’s house, of course. I’ve been good, like you asked. I’m staying here.”

In the background, Casey’s voice chimed in, full of teasing humor. “Tell your mom before she starts thinking I sold you or something.”

Madeline’s eyes flicked to Julian, then she turned away again, lowering her voice. “Oliver, you haven’t left Country Y at all?”

Oliver sounded confused. “No, Mommy, I really have been at Uncle Casey’s the whole time. If you don’t believe me, ask him.”

Madeline’s heart gave a little jolt as she realized she’d messed up. Brenda had even told her before she came that Julian actually did have a son. She remembered the way Julian insisted that the boy was his, that he had nothing to do with her, and that the kid couldn’t possibly know her.

No wonder he’d been so confident.

She pressed a hand to her forehead. How had this even happened? Was it just because there were so many people at the airport, and she’d gotten confused? Had she really mistaken Julian’s son for Oliver?

Looking at the facts, it was the only thing that made sense.

Madeline bit her lip, realizing she’d landed herself in a mess.

“Alright, Mommy gets it. Stay with Uncle Casey and don’t go wandering off, okay?”

Casey must have grabbed the watch, because his voice came through next, suddenly more serious. “Did something happen?”

“It’s hard to explain…”

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